Most species of green algae occur in aquatic or marine habitats, but there are many diverse green algae that live in terrestrial habitats such desert microbiotic crust communities. My work in North American and South African arid habitats reveals that desert green algae have multiple evolutionary origins. I use traditional and molecular techniques to understand the diversity of desert green algae, and am interested in the physiological adaptations that allow these algae to survive under extreme conditions (e.g., desiccation, high light).<br/>

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Many diverse green algae live in terrestrial habitats such desert microbiotic crust communities. My work in North American and South African arid habitats reveals that desert green algae have multiple evolutionary origins. I use traditional and molecular techniques to understand the diversity of desert green algae, and am interested in the physiological adaptations that allow these algae to survive under extreme conditions (e.g., desiccation, high light).<br/><br/>

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[[Image:protosiphon.jpg|thumb|right|''A green alga recovered from soils that were dry for 43 years (ongoing project with Dr. F.R. Trainor).'']]

[[Image:Protosiphon.jpg|thumb|right|''A green alga recovered from soils that were dry for 43 years (ongoing project with Dr. F.R. Trainor).'']]

*[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/bcp/ Biotic Crust Project] - A web site and relational database designed initially to disseminate results of an NSF-funded (Biotic Systems and Inventories) project to document the diversity of green algae, cyanobacteria, lichens and bryophytes of the desert crust communities of the western United States. Now, additional projects are being served at this site.<br/>

*[http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/bcp/ Biotic Crust Project] - A web site and relational database designed initially to disseminate results of an NSF-funded (Biotic Systems and Inventories) project to document the diversity of green algae, cyanobacteria, lichens and bryophytes of the desert crust communities of the western United States. Now, additional projects are being served at this site.<br/>

<span style="font-size: large">Evolution of green algae and early diverging lineages of green plants<br/></span>

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I also am interested in morphological evolution within chlorophyceaen green algae, and have used molecular and morphological data to resolve the relationship among major groups of green algae and early-diverging land plants.<br/>

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I also am interested in morphological evolution within chlorophyceaen green algae, and use molecular and morphological data to resolve the relationship among species and major groups of green algae and early-diverging land plants.<br/><br/>

Unicellular green algae form symbioses with marine invertebrates, ciliates, fungi, and even flowering plants. In collaboration with Gisele Muller-Parker (Western Washington State University) I have worked on the small green alga that occur with the sea anemones ''Anthopleura'' ''elegantissima''. Ph.D. student [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Molly_Letsch Molly Letsch] is following up on this project in two anemone species, and across their geographic ranges.<br/>

Unicellular green algae form symbioses with marine invertebrates, ciliates, fungi, flowering plants, and even salamanders. I collaborate with former Ph.D. student [http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/eebedia/index.php/Molly_Letsch Molly Letsch] on the symbionts of anemone species, and with Tobias Landberg on the green algae of salamander eggs.<br/><br/>

*I will teach introductory biology for majors, Biology 1108. This course web site is accessed using [https://vista.uconn.edu/ Vista].

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Spring 2009 only

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*I will teach EEB 5371 (Current topics in molecular evolution and systematics) for 1 cr. We will be joined by members of MCB department (including Peter Gogarten) and will read Lynch's (2007) book "The Origins of Genome Architecture."

Research Interests

Arizona Biotic Crust

Desiccation Tolerant Algae: Diversity and Physiology
Many diverse green algae live in terrestrial habitats such desert microbiotic crust communities. My work in North American and South African arid habitats reveals that desert green algae have multiple evolutionary origins. I use traditional and molecular techniques to understand the diversity of desert green algae, and am interested in the physiological adaptations that allow these algae to survive under extreme conditions (e.g., desiccation, high light).

Desert green algae that are expressing sunscreening pigments.

A green alga recovered from soils that were dry for 43 years (ongoing project with Dr. F.R. Trainor).

Biotic Crust Project - A web site and relational database designed initially to disseminate results of an NSF-funded (Biotic Systems and Inventories) project to document the diversity of green algae, cyanobacteria, lichens and bryophytes of the desert crust communities of the western United States. Now, additional projects are being served at this site.

Lewis, L. A., and V. R. Flechtner (2004) Cryptic species of Scenedesmus (Chlorophyta) from desert soil communities of western North America. Journal of Phycology 40: 1127-1137.

Evolution of green algae and early diverging lineages of green plants
I also am interested in morphological evolution within chlorophyceaen green algae, and use molecular and morphological data to resolve the relationship among species and major groups of green algae and early-diverging land plants.

Unicellular green algae form symbioses with marine invertebrates, ciliates, fungi, flowering plants, and even salamanders. I collaborate with former Ph.D. student Molly Letsch on the symbionts of anemone species, and with Tobias Landberg on the green algae of salamander eggs.

Letsch, M.R. and L.A. Lewis (2012) Four gene arrangements within the chloroplast genome of a closely related group of green algae (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 64: 524–532.